Morning Musume '19 Adds Three New Members (15th Generation)

Long-running Japanese idol group Morning Musume ’19 has added three incredibly cute new “musumes”, who will form Morning Musume’s 15th generation. Two of them were picked from a recent Morning Musume ‘19 LOVE Audition, and one member will be joining them from the Hello! Pro Kenshuusei Hokkaido trainee division. In a live-streamed announcement, they were greeted cheerfully by the current Morning Musume members.

Watch the full announcement video below:

This is the first new lineup addition to Morning Musume since Morito Chisaki’s addition in June 2017. The members will join Morning Musume ‘19’s current 11-member lineup, consisting of: Fukumura Mizuki (leader), Ikuta Erina and Ishida Ayumi (sub-leaders), Sato Masaki, Oda Sakura, Nonaka Miki, Makino Maria, Haga Akane, Kaga Kaede, Yokoyama Reina, and Morito Chisaki.
 
Below is a short summary of each of the new members:

Kitagawa Rio (北川莉央)

Birthday: March 16, 2004 (age 15)
Birthplace: Tokyo
Height: 155 cm
Blood type: O
Hobby: Cooking
 
Trivia:
• Plays golf.
• Stated upon her introduction that she most wanted to sing Oda Sakura's solo part in "Help me!!!".

Okamura Homare (岡村ほまれ)

Birthday: May 9, 2005 (age 14)
Birthplace: Tokyo
Height: 158 cm
Blood type: A
Specialty: Dance (tap, ballet)
Hobby: Collecting stationery
Looks Up To: Sato Masaki
 
Trivia:
• Has studied dance since she was 6 years old.
• Was a fan of Hello! Project prior to joining.

Yamazaki Mei (山﨑愛生)

Birthday: June 28, 2005 (age 13)
Birthplace: Sapporo, Hokkaido
Height: 158 cm
Specialty: Electone
Hobby: Block building, handicraft, collecting panda goods
Looks Up To: Tsugunaga Momoko, Oda Sakura, Takagi Sayuki
 
Trivia:
• Auditioned to be a Ciaogirl model in 2014.
• Has been studying English through the Disney's World of English language learning program since she was 9 months old.
• Her favorite school subject is arts and crafts.
• Her favorite genre of music is J-Pop, mainly idol songs.
• Her favorite sports are jump rope and dance.
• Her motto is "Keep on trying".
• Favorite food is curry.
• Favorite colors are purple and light blue.
• Thinks her charm point is English listening.
• Her dream is to appear on national television and give a performance that reaches everyone.
• Her favorite Hello! Project songs are "Wakatte Iru no ni Gomen ne" by Country Girls, "Ai Araba IT'S ALL RIGHT" by Morning Musume,  "Chokotto LOVE by Pucchimoni, "Ooki na Ai de Motenashite" by °C-ute, and "Tsugitsugi Zokuzoku" by ANGERME.